Waste = Input for CleanBoard

The mantra of reduce, reuse and recycle are been taken to a next level by some innovative companies that utilise the waste of others as the inputs in their manufacturing. Not only are their products good for the environment they also employ innovative business strategies to maximise the value they deliver.

One such company is CleanBoard from California. Drywall manufacture is one of the top three building materials in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. It accounts for one percent of all primary industrial energy used in the USA and annual production emits more greenhouse gasses than 6,2 million cars. The gypsum used to manufacture regular drywall is a non-renewable resource that is open-pit mined with significant environmental consequences.

CleanBoard is drywall manufactured from 100% recycled gypsum using power from the sun. The result is a sustainable drywall product with zero carbon footprint. By manufacturing CleanBoard from recycled gypsum that would otherwise be sent to landfills, they help reduce the impact on the environment.

They have also developed ways of eliminating the greenhouse gas emissions by using alternative clean energy sources and are building a drywall factory that is powered entirely by solar energy. In order to deliver on their zero carbon footprint commitment from day-one, they purchase voluntary carbon offsets to cancel out any remaining emissions from the manufacture and transportation of products.

The company works with building contractors to collect all drywall cut-offs thus also saving contractors on waste collection. But, the majority of their board will be made using calcium-sulfate that comes from scrubbing coal-fired power plants. While U.S. power plants are already required to scrub emissions, CleanBoard can offer a financial incentive to plants in China and other developing countries to install scrubbers.

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